The Terracotta Army is an enormous collection of Chinese warriors made out of hardened clay, 40km (25 miles) east of the town of Xi’an. The army, which is set out in rigid columns, was created in the second century BC by the emperor Shih Huang-Ti, the first emperor of a unified China, and was entombed with him upon his death. It was discovered in 1974 during an attempt to dig a well, and since then three separate chambers have revealed over 10,000 figures. The clay figures are all individual, and are made to represent actual members of the imperial army, including both soldiers and officers. Some are armed with real weapons, standing in battle formation next to real wooden chariots. The collection also includes clay horses and is often referred to as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’.

For more information on the Terracotta Army, contact China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) (see Tourist Information above).

Air: Xi’an Xianyang International Airport. Rail: Train: Xi’an Station. Road: Taxi: Services from Xi’an.

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